SAD: HOW 20-YEAR OLD COVENANT UNIVERSITY STUDENT WAS MURDERED IN LAGOS

Lagos State Police Command is currently
investigating the circumstances surrounding the
kidnap and murder of a 20-year-old
undergraduate, identified as John Chinedu Okere,
who until his death was a 300 level Electrical
Engineering student at Covenant University, Otta
in Ogun State.

According to reports, Chinedu left his parent�s
house in the morning of Wednesday, August 6,
2014, to a Hospital in Yaba, Lagos for medical
reasons and never returned. He reportedly left
home with about N6000 and that was the last
time he was seen alive.
The mysterious disappearance of Chinedu, caused
a stir as the parents ran helter-skelter, in search
of him to no avail. They gathered from some
family members that one of his friends called on
phone earlier that morning to tell him to meet him
at an undisclosed hotel.
KIDNAP
Crime Guard learnt that at about mid-day,the
victim�s father, Jude Okere, received an SMS
notifying him that Chinedu had been kidnapped.
Later, he received a phone call from a hidden
number demanding N10 million ransom for the
release of his son. The caller allegedly threatened
to kill the victim if the parents refused to comply
as the line went dead.
FATHER�S TESTIMONY
Chinedu�s father said: � At about mid-day, I
received an SMS that John had been kidnapped.
Later, I received a phone call from a hidden
number. The caller said they had my son, Chinedu
and demanded N10 million as ransom threatening
to kill him if we refuse to comply. Immediately, I
inquired who the caller was, the line went dead.
My wife and I quickly reported the case to the
Divisional Police Station at Sabo, Yaba.�
After the case was reported to the Police at Sabo,
Yaba, it was later transferred to the Special Anti-
Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja the next day where
investigations commenced.
DEAD BODY IN A HOTEL ROOM
It was learnt that initially when the whole issue
started, the family of the victim felt it was a
kidnap that would just be resolved but
unfortunately, as events continued to unfold, it
turned out to be a premeditated murder.
Shockingly, the decomposing corpse of Chinedu
was discovered in one of the rooms at �DE
Homes Hotel� located in Ejigbo by one of their
staff, two days later.
According to reports, the Manager of the hotel
went to Ejigbo Divisional Police Station on Friday,
8, 2014, to report the case of murder and
investigation began.
HOW SUSPECTS CHECKED INTO HOTEL
A reliable source in the hotel intimated that early
on Wednesday morning, the prime suspect,
Okorocha Michael along with another young man
simply identified as Okey,checked into the hotel
with the name Christian. �He booked the room
for three days with the name Christian. He
claimed he is a youth corps member who wanted
to write exams and would be there from that
Wednesday to Friday. He also said he was
expecting his cousin to join him in the hotel.
�After booking, Michael left his friend Okey in the
hotel and returned an hour before the victim,
Chinedu arrived the hotel, which was at about
3pm that day. As soon as Chinedu arrived the
hotel, Michael took him to the room. We don�t
know what happened inside the room. However, it
was later gathered that during their stay in the
room, the suspect reportedly confronted the victim
on some personal issues. The confrontation
eventually led to a heated argument, which later
led to the suspect strangulating the victim to
death. On Friday, a hotel staff discovered the
lifeless body of the young man and alerted the
police.�
ABANDONED IN A POOL OF BLOOD
According to reports, Chinedu was murdered and
left in the pool of his blood by unfriendly friends,
who brutally killed and abandoned his corpse,
went ahead and demanded for ransom from his
parents.

ARREST OF SUSEPCTS
Crime Guard learnt the 24-year-old suspect,
Okorocha Michael, who was arrested on Sunday,
in a friend�s house around Ajah area in Lagos, is
a graduate of Lagos City Polytechnic, Ikeja. He
has been unemployed since he completed his
youth service in February this year.
APPEAL FOR JUSTICE
A family member who spoke on the condition of
anonymity revealed that the Okere�s were willing
to pay the ransom, and were still trying to get it
when his corpse was discovered. �We sincerely
pray that law takes it full course, his killers
brought to book and Chinedu will get the justice
he deserves even in death,� the source stated.
Source: Vanguard